|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 7 July 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Colombo (Lankapuvath) - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping to modernise Sri Lanka's post-secondary education system through a US$45 million equivalent loan approved for a project to increase access to distance and on-line learning programmes, a spokesman of the ADB said. The distance education modernisation project aims to provide a full range of quality courses for secondary school graduates who lack access to conventional universities by setting up a national network of tele-centres and affiliated facilities in existing schools. Over 18 years, the project will provide about 1.4 million additional students with access to post-secondary education. Less than 3 per cent of the university age group in Sri Lanka is enrolled in public universities compared with 8 per cent for South Asia as a whole - even though 25 per cent meet university requirements, he said. "Multimedia learning centres can be placed in schools, internet cafes, and many other institutions, they open up new educational opportunities, especially for those living in remote rural or conflict-affected areas," he mentioned. The government has been developing multimedia university programmes on several campuses. Sri Lanka also has an open university system enrolling about 10,000 students per year in certificate, diploma and degree programs. Building on this, the project will boost the enrolment, quality, and relevance of distance learning by supporting a distant education partnerships programme (DEPP) for up to 200,000 students over five years. The project will set up more than 100 multimedia centres nationwide, and link 20,000 students of the 26 existing open university centres and other public and private institutions via web-based multimedia courses and training. Expanding the open university system to double enrolment, modernising administration and facilities, streamlining its information technology systems and financial management, and upgrading equipment and campuses will also be undertaken. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
